Chapter 357: Flawless Victory

The officials were very surprised. Was this year’s new year’s prayer ceremony hosted by Prefectural Prince Yi? Shouldn’t the Crown Prince be the one to host such an important occasion?

Looking at Baili Junyi standing on the high platform, the Crown Prince squinted, and a sinister glint flashed in his eyes. There was not a trace of light in his dark eyes.

“Kneel!” Without waiting for them to think about it, Baili Junyi instructed.

“Hah!” The guards standing on both sides of the road suddenly raised their spears and slammed them on the ground, letting out a loud roar.

The officials, who were not prepared for what was going on, were so scared that their bodies trembled. They looked up at Baili Qingcang, who was dressed in a dragon robe and walking up the platform step by step. The decorations around the steps were exceptionally exquisite. The carefully painted auspicious clouds decorated the steps and platform with nobility. Just as he was about to reach the top of the platform, white smoke suddenly rose around the steps as if the auspicious cloud pattern had come to life. Everyone stared at the unforeseen sight with wide eyes.

Just when they were so shocked that they did not know what to do, Baili Junyi’s voice sounded again, “With the first incense stick, we pay respect to the heavens and earth! Kneel!”

Baili Qingcang personally took the incense stick and lit it. His heart was still thumping vigorously due to the astonishment. Earlier, he had asked Baili Junyi why he had made such arrangements, but the latter briefly explained the process and made a vow, saying that it would definitely be a perfect prayer ceremony. He was still skeptical as he walked up the minimally decorated steps and platform, but now, he believed him.

The officials looked at the Emperor standing in the auspicious clouds, and a trace of awe rose from the bottom of their hearts. However, this was not the end of the surprise.

Just as Baili Qingcang finished his salute and inserted the incense into the incense burner, a crisp and clear sound suddenly rang out. A group of white cranes flew up from behind Chengqian Hall and flew over the high praying platform towards the sky, causing the officials to cry out in alarm.

Originally, when they saw white smoke rising from the high platform, they thought that it was Baili Junyi who had designed it. However, when they saw the white cranes, they changed their minds. It was the winter month now. Cranes would not appear in such cold weather. Even if Baili Junyi was able to find the white cranes, it was impossible for him to transport them to the capital overnight.

Baili Qingcang looked at Baili Junyi at the side and found that there was also a slight surprise on his face. Judging from his reaction, Baili Qingcang could tell that this was not part of his arrangement. Upon this thought, he started to blush in excitement. The white crane was the most auspicious bird in the Da’an Kingdom. Just as he went to worship the heavens and earth, there was a group of white cranes flying over. What did this mean? It meant that he was indeed the destined person to rule the country!

Baili Junyi continued to announce, “With the second incense stick, we pay respect to the ancestors! Kneel!”

All the officials came back to their senses and hurriedly bowed. Their faces all had serious expressions, and they were much more respectful than before.

Baili Qingcang had just inserted the second incense stick into the incense burner when he heard the sound of a temple bell. The bell sound was especially deep and profound, echoing from afar. Everyone couldn’t help but look up at the horizon. They saw that the sky was red like flames. The bell sound seemed to come from the red clouds. The redness of the sky coupled with the profound bell sound made people in such awe that they lowered their heads respectfully.

Shen Ninghua slightly raised her head to look at the exceptionally beautiful multicolored light on the horizon and curled her lips into a faint smile. They didn’t have the ability to arrange this. It could be regarded as a surprise to them by the heavens.

Baili Qingcang’s face was full of joy. He slightly closed his eyes and listened carefully to the sound of the bell, feeling that this was his ancestors’ recognition of him as the most outstanding Emperor of Da’an Kingdom!

Baili Junyi announced again, “The third incense stick goes to the people of Da’an Kingdom! Kneel!”

After Baili Qingcang finished offering the incense, the officials looked at the sky and their surroundings but there was nothing special or unusual. Only then did they let out a sigh of relief. The first two strange phenomena were too scary. It was right that there was no reaction when the Emperor prayed for the people.

Before their thoughts dissipated, they heard a loud cheer, “Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live Da’an! Long live Da’an!”

The cheer came from all directions, and it shocked Baili Qingcang to turn around, almost unable to conceal the excitement in his eyes. “Junyi, where does this cheer come from?”

Baili Junyi showed a trace of surprise. “Father Emperor, I don’t know either, but it seemed to be coming from outside the imperial palace. Could it be the people of the capital?”

The chief of the Dragon Scale Army had already come to report, “Your Majesty, the people heard that Your Majesty is praying for Da’an Kingdom. They all kneel outside the imperial palace and pray with Your Majesty.”

Baili Qingcang took a deep breath to suppress his excited heart from coming out of his chest. Then, he laughed out loud. “Wonderful! Wonderful!”

Baili Junyi knelt on the ground and said, “Father Emperor, please ascend to the Imperial City and accept the worship of all people!”

“Prefectural Prince Yi is right. All the officials, follow me.” Baili Qingcang strode up to the Imperial City. Looking at the dense crowd of people outside, he felt a sense of heroism rise from his chest.

When the people outside the palace walls saw Baili Qingcang dressed in bright yellow, their expressions became more and more excited. “Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor! Long live the Emperor!”

The people knelt down, feeling earnest and humble. After Baili Qingcang took power, their lives became better and better, especially in the past two years. The officials were not as arrogant as before, and corruption had reduced tremendously. They had really benefited from the progress and advancement. If the Emperor continued to maintain this style, they were willing to kneel before him every year!

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Baili Qingcang raised his hand several times to signal them to get up, but the people did not obey. They knelt on the ground and repeatedly shouted “Long live the Emperor!” Some of them even insisted on shouting when their voices were hoarse.

Many officials were so excited that their faces turned red, especially the old officials who had been working for the royal family for a long time. They knelt on the ground together with the people, tears drenching their clothes, and they paid respect and admiration to Baili Qingcang.

It went on for about two hours. When the people saw that Baili Qingcang had left, they reluctantly left the palace walls.

When he returned to Chengqian Hall, Baili Qingcang was still extremely excited. He paced back and forth before the throne. After a while, he sat down and looked at Baili Junyi with a face full of smiles. “Junyi, the prayer ceremony proceeded very smoothly. I’m very satisfied.”

Baili Junyi quickly stood up. “You’re flattering me, Father Emperor. This time, I worked with the Ministry of Rite for the ceremony arrangement. I don’t deserve the credit.”

“Haha, you are quite modest.” The Minister of Rite, Zhang Yun, had worked in the Ministry of Rite for more than ten years. He was extremely serious when doing things, but he was overly conservative with the rules and would not think out of the box. Thankfully, he was in the Ministry of Rite, and everything would be done according to the Ministry of Rite’s rules and regulations. He could not arrange such an unconventional prayer ceremony.

Baili Junyi bowed and said, “Father Emperor, all I did was build the high platform and decorated the steps and platform. I have done nothing else. I should count my blessings that you didn’t blame me for my lack of duty.”

“Well, don’t be modest. I always distinguish between rewards and punishments. You have done a good job, so I naturally have to reward you. Well… How about this? You originally held the title of the royal prince, but you were demoted to prefectural prince when you left the capital some time ago. This time, you have done a good job, so you will be conferred as royal prince again. In addition, you will be awarded a pair of jade ruyi and a thousand taels of gold.”

“Thank you, Father Emperor.”

As Baili Qingcang spoke, the Crown Prince had been standing with his eyes lowered. When he heard the final reward, he raised his head slightly and looked at Baili Junyi who was bowing respectfully. A trace of cold light flashed in his eyes.

The smiles on the faces of the Third Prince and the others became even stiffer. Their hearts were full of resentment and unwillingness. The prayer ceremony this time was extremely simple. All he did was set up the high platform and the incense burner. They were frustrated that Baili Junyi received the lucrative rewards by basically doing nothing.

His brothers were envious and jealous of him. Baili Junyi lowered his head, but there was no particularly happy expression on his face. For now, the positions of a royal prince or prefectural prince were no different to him, and he couldn’t care less about the jade ruyi and gold. What he cared about was Father Emperor’s attitude towards him and the mastermind behind the deliberate destruction of the prayer ceremony.

The particularly delighted Baili Qingcang announced to host a banquet to celebrate. The group of people spent two hours of feast in the imperial palace before leaving.

After getting on the carriage with Shen Ninghua, Baili Junyi, who was as tense as a bowstring, relaxed. He leaned against Shen Ninghua and whined, “Ninghua, you don’t know how challenging it was last night.”

Shen Ninghua took a handkerchief and wiped his face, her expression full of concern. “Yes, I thought of it when I saw that high platform. Did something happen to the Ministry of Rite’s items last night?”

“Yes, most of them were burned. Those that weren’t burned were blackened by the smoke, and they were mostly useless.” As Baili Junyi spoke, he suddenly sat up straight and reached out to lift the hem of her skirt. “How is your ankle? Does it still hurt?”

“It’s much better now.” As Shen Ninghua spoke, she felt him pinch her slightly, causing her to take a deep breath in pain. “Be gentle.”

Baili Junyi placed her feet by his leg and gently removed her shoes and socks. Then, he used his inner strength to warm up his palms and gently massaged her feet. “You have to massage the spot to reduce the swelling, or you’ll feel even more pain later.”

At first, Shen Ninghua was in a lot of pain, but over time, it subsided a little. Then, she asked, “Who was the mastermind behind the fire?”

“Just think about who hates me the most and you’ll know.” Baili Junyi looked up.

Shen Ninghua thought for a moment, and a name appeared in her mind. “Baili Jinchuan?”

“He is most likely to be related.” Baili Junyi narrowed his eyes, a hint of pride flashing through his eyes. “But this time, he failed in his multiple schemes. He must be so pissed by now.”

Shen Ninghua’s lips twitched slightly, and she even started to chuckle. “We were lucky to not fall into his trap this time, but it does not mean that we will be so lucky next time. It is better to be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I will be more careful. This time, he dared to deal with us so unscrupulously because he saw Father Emperor’s attitude towards us.” After massaging Shen Ninghua’s ankle for a while, Baili Junyi helped her put on her socks and shoes. A cold light flashed in his eyes. “It’s not our style to not fight back. Ninghua, what do you think?”

“What do you want to do?”

Baili Junyi smiled. “At this time, Father Emperor has just experienced an unprecedented glory, so he won’t be pleased to see his sons fighting with each other, but a small argument won’t hurt. I remember that Second Royal Brother likes hunting dogs the most, right?”

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